Wiltshire Times
My Fair Lady THE Civic Hall was packed on Tuesday for the first night of Trowbridge Amateur Operatic Society’s production of My Fair Lady, and the enthusiastic audience was rewarded with an evening of superb entertainment. Lerner and Loewe’s enchanting musical version of Pygmalion relies on strong central performances, and the principals rose to the challenge admirably Although she was suffering from a severe throat infection, Allison Lomax shone in the title role as Eliza Doolittle. The strain showed a little in the demanding high notes of I Could Have Danced All Night, but this talented actress and singer captured both the comedy and the romance of Eliza’s character. Paul Morgan was perfectly cast as Professor Higgins: his diction and timing were faultless, and he found an excellent foil in Robert Knowles as a charming colonel Pickering. Clive James made the most of a wonderful part as Eliza’s ne’er-do-well father, Alfred P. Doolittle, and Sean Andrews was engaging as the love-lorn Freddy Eynsford-Hill. Spectacular set-pieces like the Ascot Gavotte and Get Me to the Church on Time were beautifully choreographed by Heidi Hunt, and showed off the talents of a very strong chorus. Much praise must go to musical director Johnny Bissell and director Peter Spencer for a show equal to many seen on the professional stage. My Fair Lady runs until tomorrow night. Joceline Bury
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